Product Details

• Actors: Barry McEvoy, Brian F. O'Byrne
• Directors: Barry Levinson
• Format: NTSC
• Number of tapes: 2
• Studio: DreamWorks
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0783262361

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's hard to believe that a movie about two hairpiece salesmen in war-torn Northern Ireland--a comedy, no less--could work at all, but An Everlasting Piece does work, though perhaps not in the way one would expect. Colm (Barry McEvoy, who also wrote the screenplay) is a new barber at a mental institution and bonds with his fellow barber George (Brian F. O'Byrne) even though Colm is Catholic and George is Protestant. A new patient arrives, who turns out to have been the owner of the only wig company in all of Northern Ireland. Figuring that having a monopoly means easy money, Colm and George convince the new patient to give them his client list, and they're off on a series of rambling comic adventures, aided by Colm's girlfriend Bronagh (Anna Friel, A Midsummer Night's Dream). But when a wig is found at the site of an act of IRA sabotage, the salesmen's lives get suddenly complicated. What makes An Everlasting Piece work is not that it ignores the Irish conflict, but that it pays close attention to it; in fact, the tension of civil strife is a crucial element of the movie's humor, allowing it to dip into a more serious mood without becoming preachy or pretentious. The actors are uniformly excellent; Friel is particularly charming. A comedy about wigs sounds like goofy slapstick; An Everlasting Piece is actually thoughtful and richly human. Directed by Barry Levinson (Diner, Rain Man, Wag the Dog). --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Everlasting Piece, December 25, 2000

By 

Patricia Claire (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This is definitely one of my favorite movies! I saw it when it was released at the Virginia Film Festival this past Fall & I LOVED it! We got to hear the writer, Barry, talk about starring in his own movie & the filming process - he's such a cool guy & I hope he gets some great deals after this first, fabulous, performance! The most incredible part about this film was the setting of Northern Ireland. My family had two Irish children stay with us one summer & they talked about living in such an intense atmosphere. This film made that tension apparent - but all the while there was a very comedic, human side that came alive & was truly endearing! I just can't say enough positive things about "An Everlasting Piece". I loved it & I really hope this movie is a success!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dead on!, November 25, 2003

By 

Ronald T. McCoy "Ron" (In the Middle, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Everlasting Piece (DVD)

Having spent quite some time over the past 25 years or so visiting friends and relations in Northern Ireland, my reactions to films that deal with the place run along a continuum of "Dead Awful-Dead On." This film takes a silly little idea and winds it up into a metaphor for all those people who attempted to carry on with their lives, surrounded by and in spite of The Troubles. It's loaded with inside jokes that those who attempt to bridge the divide will recognize and respond to immediately. I absolutely love this film, which tells us more about the people of Northern Ireland than all the useless politicians combined. Besides, this is one very funny film. Enjoy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good piece., February 1, 2001

By 

Elvis (Graceland. U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

Over all I thought it was an entertaining and enjoyable film. Very well written. Hats of to McEvoy. I did how ever feel the film lacked a little in the direction. In my humble opinon I feel the film ran a little slow. And it would have been nice to see Dreamworks put a little of it's impressive movie muscle behind this small flick. A good view.